ROCKFORD - Schools across the Rock River Valley are preparing to reopen today after an extended winter break because of temperatures that dropped so low it was deemed unsafe for kids to wait at bus stops.

At the Rockford School District's transportation center, mechanics were busy starting and idling more than 200 school buses Tuesday to make sure they're ready to roll out this morning.

Based on the weather forecast and what he's hearing from the district's headquarters, Transportation Director Gregg Wilson said all signs are pointing to school's return.

For some Rockford area parents, it couldn't come soon enough.

"We're a family. We love each other, but we're sick of each other," said Cat Smoody of Roscoe. "That cabin fever thing ... It's real."

All but two attend public schools, which have been on an extended winter break the past two days because of the extreme cold.

The past two days have been rough, Smoody said. Everyone already was ready to go back to school. Now, they're trapped inside.

Smoody said she tries to keep the TV and computer off as much as she can. She gives her kids "reading" or "drawing" projects. She arranges "Smoody Dance-off" competitions in the living room. If they say they're bored, she has them go through their rooms and look for toys to donate.

"I tell them, 'You know if these things bore you so much, we should get rid of them,'" she said. "They've been really good about it. They've been filling boxes."

Still, getting back to a routine would be good for everybody, she added.

"They've even said they can't wait to go back ... And I'd like to go back to not hearing my name 50 times an hour."

Bus crews worked overnight

Because of the extreme cold the past few days, Wilson said he'll probably have crews at the Rockford transportation center throughout the night starting engines and troubleshooting.

"Normally with extreme cold, we'd start at 3 a.m.," Wilson said. "Because the buses have been sitting for more than two weeks and because it was so cold the past two days, we'll want to make sure we don't have any issues."

Route pick-up times will remain the same, Wilson said, as will school start times.